David Ortiz Continues to Set Pace for Red Sox, Team Must Follow Slugger’s Example to Catch Fire

Editor's note: NESN.com is going to tell the story of the 2012 Red Sox in Bobby Valentine’s words. Each game day, we will select the best Valentine quote that sums up the day for the Red Sox.

David Ortiz has been mashing like a monster on Halloween so far this season, and Monday night's loss to the Blue Jays was no different.

Ortiz recorded his 37th career multi-homer game with the Red Sox in Monday's loss — tying him with Ted Williams for most in team history — crushing two home runs in the game and setting the pace for the Red Sox offense. But then again that was really no different than he's done since the start of 2012. The only problem remains that his teammates haven't been following suit — at least not consistently.

Papi's offensive explosion, 2-for-3 with the two longballs and three RBIs, steadied the Sox attack but once again proved to be too little as the pitching staff allowed the game to get away from them. But Ortiz' powerful presence at the plate won't be enough to carry the Sox into October baseball. Instead, his team must find it within themselves to follow his lead if there's any hope of postseason play.

Manager Bobby Valentine was wowed by Ortiz show of raw strength and power in the Sox rain-delayed 9-6 loss on Monday.

"David swung the bat really well," Valentine said of Ortiz performance. "I'm not going to analyze it. I'm just going to enjoy it."

Valentine knows that Ortiz has been giving as much to this team as possible. So, instead of continuing to push his All-Star DH, he's chosen to just sit back and enjoy the show until his team can find the same sort of consistent play.

Dustin Pedroia has been on a tear of late, going 6-for-11 in the team's past three games, and looks to finally be over that nagging thumb injury that saw him slump for nearly a month in the Sox lineup. Will Middlebrooks is another Sox player stroking at a torrid pace, hitting 11-for-20 with seven extra-base hits over the team's last seven outings.

But aside from the two infielders, the Red Sox haven't had much success at the plate and the team hasn't been much better on the mound — allowing four runs or more in seven of their past eight games.

It's been a struggle to find consistency all season for the Red Sox, but if Ortiz continues polishing off baseballs at his current pace then the rest of his Boston teammates are bound to find their rhythm at some point. Right?

The Red Sox hopes and dreams are riding steadily on Ortiz' shoulders right now, but for how long can he last carrying the entire load? Someone else must step up and take some of the burden on themselves.